EXTRACTS 



JOHN MARSHALL'S DIARY, 



January, 1689 — December, 1711. 



litf) an Entrotiuction 



By SAMUEL A. GREEN. 



EXTRACTS 



JOHN MARSHALL'S DIARY, 



January, 1689 — December, 1711. 



Wiit\) an 3:ntrol)ucti0n 



By SAMUEL A. GREEN. 



CAMBRIDGE: 
J()H\ WILSON AXU SOX. 

iilluitcrsttg ^xcss. 
1900. 






JOHN MARSHALL'S DIAKY. 



At a meetinsT of the Massachusetts Hlstorical 
Society, held in Boston on Thursday, March 8, 
1900, Dr. Samuel A. Green made the following 
remarks : — 

Among the early gifts to the Historical Library was "A 
MS. Journal of John Marshall," as appears from the Proceed- 
ings (I. 31). The journal was presented by James Winthrop, 
one of the original members of the Society, on March 30, 1792. 
It begins on January 24, 1688-9, and ends on December 30, 
1711. In size the book is about eleven inches long by 
four wide, and contains 118 leaves or 236 pages ; and it is 
bound in vellum. The writer was John Marshall, of Braintree, 
whose mother married for her second husband Daniel Fairfield ; 
and this family connection has been the cause of some con- 
fusion in regard to the authorship of the journal. A few of 
the earliest entries, which relate to a military company in 
Boston, are signed " Daniel Fairfield, Clerk," but they are all 
in the same handwriting as the rest of the book. Apparently 
John Marshall made the entries for his stepfather and signed 
the stepfather's name to them. There is no record to show 
how long the journal remained in the Library after it was 
originally given, but there is reason to think that it 
was out of the Society's possession for an unknown length 
of time. 

On September 29, 1839, the Rev. William P. Lunt, of 
Quincy, a former member of this Society, delivered two his- 
torical addresses in that town ; and in the Appendix (p. 107) 
to tlie pamphlet containing these discourses, he quotes freely 



from the journal, which he calls " Fairfield's Diary " ; and 
he says, furthermore, that " it was presented to the Library 
of the Historical Society, by Rev. Dr. Harris," of Dorchester. 
Mr. Savage, in his " Genealogical Dictionary of the First Set- 
tlers of New England," under several family names (Copeland, 
Fairfield, and Marshall) also alludes to the manuscript, and 
says that it was procured for the Historical Society by Dr. T. 
M. Harris. Sixteen years ago, Mr. Adams, now our President, 
gave very copious extracts from the diary, which appear in 
the Proceedings (second series, I. 148-164) for April, 1884 ; 
and he also said that the book was given by the Rev. Thad- 
deus M. Harris. I have dwelt somewhat more fully on this 
matter than I otherwise should have done, in order to show 
that the journal was given originally by James Winthrop, and 
not by the Rev. Dr. Thaddeus M. Harris, a former Librarian. 
At some subsequent date, probably, it was lent to a member, 
and a record of the loan not kept, and in the course of time 
the fact was forgotten. It should be borne in mind that in 
the early days of the Societ}'- manuscripts were not guarded 
with great care- In a Loan-book, first used in 1809, instances 
are recorded where both books and manuscripts were lent out 
and not brought back by the borrowers for many years. 
Indeed, there are instances where apparently volumes were 
never returned. According to a charge in the same book, 
" Fairfield's ms. Diary " was lent to a member on April 26, 
1832, and returned on May 25. 

It is an interesting fact to note that the Rev. Thomas Prince 
used this manuscript when he compiled his " Chronological 
History of New-England in the Form of Annals" (Boston, 
1736), as appears from the Preface (p. vii) to that work. He 
there mentions among his authorities: "An Onginal Journal 
of a very Intelligent Person deceased, who desired not to be 
named ; relating remarkable Matters from 1689 to 1711, inclu- 
sively." In order to clinch the connection between this title 
and the one now under consideration, I will mention the fact 
that Dr. Jeremy Belknap makes an extract from it, and says 
that it is " From a MS Journal in N E Liby by one Daniel 
Fairfield of Boston, Mason." The New-England Library — 
" Begun to be collected by Thomas Prince," according t • the 
book-plate in the volumes —^fk now known as ^le Prince 
Library, and is in the keeping of the Boston Public Library. 



In various places throughout the journal are numerous words 
underscored in red ink, showing unmistakable signs of its 
use by Dr. Belknap, who was in tlic habit of thus marking 
manuscripts examined by him. 

The following theory is offered as an explanation of the 
several variances in the statements here mentioned in connec- 
tion with the journal : — 

First, Mr. Prince had the use of tlie manuscript before the 
year 17-)6, when his work was publisli<^d. Of course, he knew 
the authorship, but he was restricted from naming it. 

Secondly, Dr. Belknap used the book while it was in the 
New-England Library, certainly not later than 1790, and per- 
haps several years previously, lie ascribed tlie authorsliip to 
Daniel Fairfield, probably because the first 'few entries in 
the journal are apparently signed by him. 

Thirdly, Mr. Winthrop gave the diary to the Society, on 
March 30, 1792, under the true name of the writer. Pre- 
sumably he had examined the book, which bears unmistak- 
able evidence of its authorship. At some date subsequent to 
the gift it was lost sight of by the Library, and officially for- 
gotten. After a time it drifted into the hands of Dr. Harris, 
an early member, and by him was given anew to the Library. 

The journal was certainly here on April 26, 1832, when 
it was lent out to a member as " Fairfield's ms. Diar}^" and 
duly returned on May 25 following. It was here in the 
autumn of 1839, when it was used by the Rev. William P. 
Lunt in the preparation of his historical sermons, in which he 
always refers to the book as " Fairfield's Diary." There is 
no reason to think tliat the manuscript has been out of the 
possession of the Society since it was used by Mr. Lunt. 

The journal apparently was not here in the )'ear 1811, 
when a catalogue of the books and manuscripts was printed, 
wliicii does not include this title ; and I am inclined to tliink 
that it disappeared from the Library near the beginning of 
the century. 

John Marshall, tlie writer, was a son of John and Ruth 
^^farshall, of Boston, and was born on October 2, 16(34. He 
was married at Braintree, on ]\Iay 12, 1690, to ^Irs. ^Mary 
Mills, daughter of Edmond and jNIary Sheffield, and widow 
of Jonathan Mills, who died on^October 1, 1718, aged fifty- 
five years. -About the time of his marriage he took up his 



abode in Braintree, where he worked at the trade of a mason, 
and where he died on October 25, 1732. 

Mr. Prince, in the Preface (p. vii) to his Annals, gives the 
title of another manuscrij)t which he used in the preparation 
of his book, viz. : " Capt. Roger Olajfs Account of the ancient 
Affairs of the Massachusetts Colony." In fact, before the 
appearance of the Annals, as early as August, 1731, he brought 
out an edition of Captain Clap's Account, adding thereto an in- 
troduction " To the New-England Reader." The manuscript, 
here mentioned, is identical with the one referred to by the 
Committee of Publication in their Preface (p. iii note) to the 
" Memoirs of Roger Clap. 1630," which was printed as " Num- 
ber One " of the Collections of the Dorchester Antiquarian 
and Historical Society (Boston, 1844). The Committee there 
say that the original Account " was subsequently deposited 
in the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, but 
has since been irrecoverably lost." Within a short time this 
Library has been carefully searched for the missing work, 
and the records have been thoroughly examined for the same 
purpose, but no trace of it has yet been found. I mention the 
fact now in order to put on record that the manuscript never 
belonged to the Historical Society, but in all probability to 
the New-England Library. For many years, from 1817 to 
1859, a part of the New-England Library under certain con- 
ditions was temporarily placed in the care of the Historical 
Society. It will be seen that the Dorchester Committee of 
Publication uses the word " deposited," which does not imply 
any ownership on the part of this Society, as casual readers 
might infer. 

Another similar instance of manuscripts belonging to the 
Prince collection, and accredited to the Historical Society 
Library, is found in the postscript to a letter written by the 
Hon. John Quincy Adams, under date of September 18, 1839, 
and printed in the " Archasologia Americana " (III. 277). 
The writer there says that he has " seen, in the Library of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society, manuscript abstracts of ser- 
mons preached at the South Church by Mr. Leonard Hoar," 
during the year 1670. Without any doubt these notes on 
sermons belonged to the Prince Library, although they are 
not now to be found in that collection. 

While numerous extracts from Marshall's journal have at 



various times been printed, there are still a few of some 
interest, largely of a genealogical character, wliich have not 
yet seen the light ; and these are now offered for publication. 
In a certain number of other instances extracts, which have 
appeared elsewhere in an abridged form, are here given in 
full. For convenience the selections have been placed un- 
der three arbitrary headings, viz. : " Deaths," " Indians," and 
" Miscellaneous." 

Deaths. 

1697. 

\^January~\ 15 . . . Couzen haniiah Gridley Dyed at Boston. . . . 

[J/arcA] 25 . . . at night came news of willyam hay wards death. . . . 

26 I went to the [Taunton] north purchase with willyam hay wards 
frends y' night we buried his body : . . . 

old m' dean of andover dyed. 

the honorable Symon Bradstreet escf : dyed at Salem aged 95 years 
who hath been serviseable in our civill governm' 60 years : diurs of 
which he was Governour of the Collony of the Masachusets : . . . 

\^Aprir\ 3 . . . Cornelius camball Buried : . . . 

7 a child of francis nash of Brantree was killed in an awfuU manner 
by a Log of wood Rolling upon it down a hill : so that the head and 
breast of the child was much Bruised : of w'' it was Judged it dyed 
presently. The child was mising all night and in the morning found 
dead. A Jury of inquest summoned . . . 

2-4 henry dewins wife kild 

26 . . . saunderss child buried this day. . . . 

[M«y] a man was found dead on Boston neck shoar. drowned some 
days before : 

anothr man found dead on the flats in Boston, near the draw Bridge : 
who atempted to Runaway from the Province Galley by swiming : But 
was drowned : . . . 

in the Latter end of this month a woman the wife of Leiftenant 
[Nathaniel] Willder of Lancaster destroyed her self in a fit of rael- 
lancholly She was in her Life time estemed a truly pious woman By 
them y' knew her . . . 

\_Jnne'\ 23. . . . aunt nucum dyed. . . . 

on the 7 day one sam" dean of Taunton was suddenly killed in a 
terible manner : no man was with him and so the manner is not cear- 
tainly known : But it is Judged it was done By a horse kicking him . . . 

on munday the 28 day the Reuerend ra' Samuell Willard. had a son 
about 13 years of age drowned, in Cambridge : he haveing been educated 
to a fitnes for admision into harvard Colledge : was questioned and 



admited : after which the same afternoon he soinw into the water to 
swim was unacountably Drowned . . . 

\_Juhj 4] on the same day and about the same time of the day dyed 
the Reverend and holy man of god, and singularly acomplished diuine 
m'' Joshua Moodey : the Learned pious and eminently faithfull pastor 
of tlie church of Christ at Portsmouth, formerly a town belonging to the 
collony of the masachusets But now Belonging to pascataqua : This 
eminent servant of christ was dearly Loiied : and hyly lionored By all 
that kuew him: he was a zealos and Liuely preacher of the word of god : 
a man mighty in prayer Jacob Like he would weep and make suplica- 
tiou : he was ou tuesday following in the afternoon Honorably interred 
in Boston, in the tomb of the worshipfull John Hull: esqr. 

on the 22'^ of July dyed of a feaver The Reuerend nf Benjamin 
esterbrooks the Learned pastor of a church iu the forrein of cameBridge : 
which was gathered in October Last, and mr. easterbrooks ordained. 
The place known By the name of Camebridge farms [now Lexington] : 
he dyed in a very hott day. , . . 

a woman at Lyn was strangely killed either By falling from a horse 
or by a horse kicking of her : . . . 

\^September\ 13 . . . moses pains child Buried . . . 

24 . . . about the same time a shallop going from boston to pascataqua 
in which was severall pasengers the shallop was cast away and 4 of them 
drowned. : and a maid was drowned at the same time going from Boston 
to Hull : named Deborah Kembell : 

27 : A young man of waymoth named pitty employed about makeing 
cider was accidentally killed By the Beam of the press falling on him 
he was killed in a moment: . . . 

[^October'] on the fifth day of this month a house was Burned at 
Woburn at noon day and an old man Burnt to death in it his name was 
Sears : 

\_Novembe7-'\ on the 27 nouember a strangr dyed suddenly at Millton 
at petr whites ... 

\_Decemhei-\ on the 12 of this month dyed in Boston the Reuerend 
m'' .John Bailey who for many years preached the gospell of peace iu the 
city of Limberick. in the Kingdom of Ireland, but being persecuted and 
silenced he Remoued to new england : anno, 1684 he was hyly honored 
at his arival as he well deserued. being a more than ordinary, liuely 
preacher, he was for some years the oficer of the church in watertown. 
when his wife dyed and his dear Brother Thomas who was allso a famose 
minister. Then being uery mallancholly and haueing the gout he moued 
to boston, he preached in Boston at the south cMi once a month at the 
old cMi allraost every sabbath, and his turn in the Lecture: till falling 
sick Last fall, he dyed as aboue written, and was honorably intered on 
the 16 day in the tomb of m"" Thomas deane : aged 57 years . . . 



1G98. 

[I^ebriian/] 10 . . . old mr'' tliayer Buried . . . 

12 . . . SaraH Baglys child Buried . . . 

their dyed in Brantree in the year 1697 : 12 grown persons Leiftenant 
twplues. goody Bradford neall camball. goody nucum. John saundei's 
hi&wife: tho hollbrooks wife olid m"" PloUbrook. ephraim arnold mr'' 
faxon : m'"quinsey: goody tliayer and torn Reuett: allso 12 children John 
benches 1 : hanck nashes 2 will uesys 3 : Soil uesys 4 : John Saun- 
derses o. moses pains 6: John Pains 7 : Ben neals 8. nic saltrs m"' 
Rawsons 10: Sam Baglys: 11 and Black Mingos 12 : . . . 

April 13 a young man was sudenly killed in Boston. By a hogshed 
of sugar falling on him. . . . 

\_May'\ m' Rawsons negro May 21 . . . 

[,/«««] ... 3 men going from on board the frigate tli^t then Lay at 
anchor in the Road at Hull was drowned. . . . 

\^August'\ on the 13 day a young man named John Wallys was drowned 
in brantree at noon day. going ijito the water to wash himself: . . . 

15 Capt Howard. A Justice of the peace for the County of Bristoll. 
dyed suddenly as he was Rideing to Marshfield on buisnes : . . . 

\^October'\ 15 day a man was drowned in Boston. . . . 

\_Derember'\ I heard that 4 men of Road island going over a Riuer : 
an arm of the sea from keeping Christmas on the Sab the 25 of this 
month, thr canoe ourturued, and they weer all 4 drowned. 

1699. 

[^February] I heard A man of Reading Broke his neck By a fall 
from a horse and one at Boston was killed in an awfull manner. 

Samtt Spears child 12 day . . . 

\_Marcir\ 23 ... in the morning I sumoned a Jury of inquest on the 
sijuaw found the day before. . . • 

[June'\ peter webs wife dyed June 5"' : . . . 

Martin Sacans July 27 . . . 

[^Jnly 3] one man y' I knew well was drowned at Pascataqua called 
Benj Backaway. Some dyed suddenly in boston : especially one named 
nathan Bellcher who on nuuulay July 3'' helped carry a man called 
Stockman to the graue : and dyed himself that night and was buried 
the day following : July 4!*! . . . 

\^October'\ James Pufers ch Octobr 5"" : . . . 

\^November'\ Allso one John Leonard of Bridgewater went from 
home about the 6 or 7 of the month, and was found dead in the woods 
some days after : . . . 



10 



1700. 

[^February] 1 . . . Willyam Savill dyed. . . . 

2 ... I atended the funerall : . . . 

[^MarcK] on the 13 day 4 men of boston going out early in the 
morning in a canoo a guning : the canoo ouerset, and they weer 3 of 
them drowned. . . . 

Carreys twins Buryed march 29 . . . 

\_Aprir\ Peter nucums wife dyed ap^ 27 : . . . 

\_May'] 22 empanelled a Jury on a dead man at Rye iland . . . 

[^July 20] about the same time a man named Lovering was by 
acident drowned at boston. . . . 

\_September'\ Sam Bass child dyed Sept. 15 , . . 

\_December'\ we in Braintree Lost Samuell Savell on the 14 day : A 
godly man. and well beloved of all that knew him : 

Hingham Lost Justice Cushion the begining of the month. . . . 

1701. 

\_January'\ a young man was Lost belonging to mudy riuer. his name 
was Roberts : in the storm on the 30 day : frozen to dea'th : a 

sad prouidence : . . . 

\_March'] marcy prat dyed, march 2*^ and her child the same day. 
— both Laid in one graue 

Joseph Bellchers child dyed March 8 : . . . 

martha puffer dyed march 29 : . . . 

toward the end of the month a woman at dedham wife to Jonathan 
fuller was found dead in her well. 

on the 29 day one Willyam Townsend travelling Between Bridge- 
water and taunton, dyed in a very awfull maner. his horse standing in 
a brook to drink, he fell off so as that he was found hanging by the 
side of the water stone dead. . . . 

[May'] eb Thayrs child dyed may 13 : . . . 

[June] a man that was confined as a prisoner in the common goal 
at boston, in a fit of mallanchoUy destroyed himself by first cutting his 
throat and then he hanged himself about the 15 of the moneth . . . 

August ... 2 men weer drowned near the Castle at 2 seurall 
times : one in august : one in July Last : . . . 

October ... a man named bradley belonging to the town of dor- 
chester was drowned on the 3"^ day of the moneth. . . . 

a man drowned at boston the 25 day : . . . 

Richard heyden October 25 

Solomon Veazey buryed a child . . . 

Novem 5 Ephraim Lunford dyed at clement cocks : 



11 

Joseph Arnold an inhabitant of brantree many years being old. full of 
days being at boston visiting his son John dyed tliere and was buryed 
novm'' 17 : . . . 

As to this past month of nouem'^ it may be Remembred that on the 
23 day, being the sabbath we had a sore storm of Wind and Rain and 
snow, some uesals at sea narowly escaped shipwrack : m"' Caleb Ho- 
bart mastr of a Ship then Coming in Lost a man. A family that went 
from boston 2 days before : in order to remove by watr to some other 
place meeting that storm weer all cast away to the number of six : 
toward the latter end of the month John Joyliffe : esqT a man uery 
usefull in former days: and a member of the Councell. of lattr time: 
dyed in a great and good old age ; at boston severall others weer Lost 
that storm if Reports ai'e true, allthou I had not Certain intilligence of 
the persons so as to make a memorandum of it : . . . 

1702. 

\_January'\ on the 20 day a sad acident hapened at boston m'' far- 
num. a man Long employed in tending the water mill at or near the 
fery at the north end of the town, fell in under the wheel, and was 
killed in a moment. 

the same week on Satarday January 24 a maid fell into the fire 
at Cambridge and was burnt to death : and toward the Lattr end of 
the month in a sore storm a brigenteen was cast away which come 
from the bay of Compeecha : the master of her was one m"" Hunting of 
charlstowne the wreck droue in at marblehead the week following, 
wherein was found 2 or 3 men. dead, they weer all frozen, a pocket 
book allso was found on board the Wreck, a Jornall of the voyage, part 
of which was written but 2 or 3 days, before the vesell was Lost : . . . 

Joseph Basses child dyed Jan 31 : . . . 

\_FebrHary'] on the 2*^ of february past a man was drowned in a 
cellar at boston, at the sign of the f[ueens head. . . . 

[March'] Legeres negro nanee dyed march 13 . . . 

[J/o?/] John Cleverlys child dyed may 31 : 1702 . . . 

[June'] M'' Thomas Crosbie dyed suddenly in his bed at boston June 
12 : he went to bed well: and in the morning was found dead: . . . 

[^October] my son John dyed October 6. 1702 Aged 8 years and 22 
days . . . 

[^December] As to the past month of December I haue nothing to 
remark, only the sore storm tiiat hapened on the 8"' day : which was 
truly extraordinary, the most damage I heard of was a sloop that come 
from new york Laden with wheat and flower mostly, was cast away at 
the rocks at hingham the whole was Lost, and three men Lost their 
Lines . . . 



12 

Memoraudum. on the 11"' day of June Last 1702: m"^ thomas weld, 
the pastor of the church of dunstable was buryed he was an eminent 
preacher of the word of god. a man well beloued and much Lamented 
by them that knew him. his death is Justly to be accounted a great 
Loss to the prouince in genrall and to the poor towne of dunstable in 
perticaler : . . . 

1703. 

[Januaryl^ on the 18 day at night one ebenezer Bird of Dorchester 
fell from his horse and dyed : never spake a word, a strong Lusty 
young man. the same week captain Thomas Hunt of Boston had a son 
a man grown, who went to bed well at night : and dyed before 
morning he was found dead in his bed. on the sabbath day the Last 
of this month olid goodwife Niles of this town of Braintree dyed 
uery suddenly [January 31] . . . 

\_Febriiary~\ sister stocker dyed feb 4* a good woman well beloued 
and much Lamented. 

5 : Josiah franklin of boston had a child [Ebenezer] drowned in a 
tubb of water standing at his door. 

23. capt John AVing of boston dyed : Collonell John Pynchon esq"" 
who had been a magistrate 50 years dyed, at Springfeild some time this 
month : an old man. and full of days : and thus this year ended. . . . 

\_MarcK\ Solomon veazey buryed a new born child march 23*^ : 

\_Aprir\ Jonathan Hay wards wife dyed Aprill P' 1703: 

\_May] Mr Cleuerly dyed in boston, — was buryed in brantree 
May 6: 

Mingos wife buryed the 7 of May : . . . 

my aunt kneland dyed May 5 at Roxbury : aged Go years : . . . 

\_June~\ on the 26 of this June John diar was drowned at scituate . . . 

\_Octoher~\ on the 11"* day: a young man of Boston, haueing ariued 
at marble head being newly come from sea, was killed being struck 
down dead on the deck, as he was helping to weigh their anchor, his 
name was Jonathan Bucher. . . . 

\_Novemher'] on the 3'^ day of the month being a storm of Rain and 
snow one one [s^c] John White of dorchester was found dead in the 
hye way by the side of his Cart 

\_December'\ Memorandum As to what hapened the Last month I 
shall now record it only be it remembred that on the 28 of november 
was a sore stor/n of snow, in which a sloop was cast away : and all in 
her was Lost the masters name was m'' paul batt : with him was Lost 
three or four men. 

decern'' 3'^ one capt Ball was killed by a fall off a wharfe at the north 
end of boston, he fell a cross a boat that lay aground at the wharfe 
by which he broke his bones and dyed imediately : . . . 



13 



1704. 

march edmund Littellfeild buryed a child sometime in march : 

april ebenezer thayer buryed a child on the 15 day : James puffer 
buryed a son 5 days old aprill 24 : 

\_May\ mr^ wales dyed May 1 1 : aged 42 years : 

[^August] old mr' hobart dyed August 9'!' 1704 : 

ebenezer thayei's daughter dyed august 20 : 1704: 

Samuell Baxters twin infant born — dyed august 21 : . . . 

Sep* 3*^ Cap' Thomas Thaxter of Hingham dyed very suddenly, 
the week following 2 if not 3 persons dyed suddenly at boston one 
wherof was my couzen mr^ melatiah Briggs who was well and dead 
in a few hours : a child was killed at dedham by a cart falling on 
it : on the 22'^ of this month Thomas Metcalfe of dedham was killed 
by his cart oversetting in the hy way and falling on hira : which 
killed him in a moment as tis supposed, for no man was present with 
him heer in brantree Thomas Thayer Lost two sons by a feaver who 
weer both well and dead in about eight days time a loud providence 
to all that do serviue : this is written October 1*' in the evening . . . 

in this month past dyed on the 9th day old goodman Shaw of Wey- 
mouth pretty suddenly. . . . 

old mr' Tuthill of Boston gat a fall about the middle of the month by 
which she broke her thigh : of which wound she dyed, in a few days : 
a holy woman, a true fearer of god. . . . 

\_October'\ 30 ... I digged a grave for feilds children . . . 

mr nathaneel Rogers minster at strawberry Bank [Portsmouth, N. H.] 
had his house burnt, and a child and a negro servant burnt to death 
in it October 23 : 

But the darkest providence which hapened this month which I have 
heard of was the sad and sudden death of m'^ Andrew Gardiner minis- 
ter of Lancaster, who Riseing before day one morning to secure the 
garrison : the centinell takeing him to be an enimy shott him down : 
he Lived not two hours after he was shott but dyed : very much 
Lamented a vsefull man. and in his youth being not full thirty years 
old as I suppose : . . . . 

\_November'] 30 . . . day major Davis was buryed at boston : he 
dyed Last sabbath day night : 

\_December'\ As to this december past it may be Remembred that on 
or about the 8"^ day of the month dyed m"" thomas Clarke pastor of the 
Church of Chelmsford a great Loss to all our towns and espacially to 
our frontiers on that side of the Country who are Greatly weakened by 
the Loss of such a worthy man : . . . 

One tedman a brazier at boston dyed very suddenly : . . . 



14 



1705. 

[January'\ Leift penimon dyed 16 day : . . . 

[^Marcli] the 3*^ day one Aaron Hobart going from hinghara with a 
boat Load of Linae and was drowned near bird Island. 

on the 16 day dyed the Reverend m'' edward thompson pastor of the 
Church of Christ in Marshfeild : he dyed very suddenly : aged near 
40 years : . . . 

\_April'\ on the 10 day a young man of Boston was drowned. . . . 

\_October'\ 13 ... at noon father dyed . . . 

^November'] a Litell Boy of mr^ Boilstones of Boston was killed by 
an accident at a cyder mill . . . 

^December] Thomas thayer Laid violent hands on himself. Decem- 
ber 7*.'' a sad and dark providence . . . 

m"^ John Hubbard dyed at Long island in October, m'" Clark of 
exeter dyed and m"" Jabez wakeman about the same time and some 
others . . . 

1706. 

[^Jnntiary~\ ^\ . . . Jos Penimon Buryed: . . . we buryed Joseph 
Penimon who dyed the 28 daye : after 4 days sickness of a feaver." this 
young man dyed in his prime of age being Between 30 and 40 : and 
in his sickness Left a solemn warning to all the young men of his 
acquaintance to beware of those evils he had been too much adicted 
unto : . . . 

John Collburn of Roxbury and Joseph newell of lyn weer Lost in the 
snow storm on the 30 day : . . . 

\_Februa7-y'\ on the 20 day we had a storm of snow and wind wherin 
2 shallops weer Lost and out of one of them 4 men drowned : . . . 

[^MdrcJi] m^ Cushion of scituate dyed on the 22*^ day of the 
month. . . . 

\_May'\ 24 ... John pains son killed ... A young Lad named 
John Pain being in an orchard shooting Black birds and not being so 
careful as ought to be he shott himself in the belly, and so dyed 
imediately : . . . 

the 12 of this month the english army under the Command of his 
highness the duke of marl borough obtained a signal victory over the 
army of the french King : which we had a perticuler account of by the 
ships that come in from england in September following and by 
the same ships we have the sorowfull news of the Barbarous murther 
of m"" Simeon Stoddard son of Simeon Stoddard esq'' who was 
murthered haveing his throat Cut from Jugular to Jugular and a 
wound in the neck another in his shoulder his body was found in 
chelsy feilds [England] . . . 



15 

{_June^ on the 19 day olid mr'* Beers widdow of Cap' Richard Beers 
dyed, who was aged 92 years and had Lived in new england 76. 
years : who at her death had a grand daughter who is a grand mother. 

on the 29 day the weather more hot then ordinary several! men 
going into water to wash, one of them was drowned, named Clement 
Bate who Lived at hingham : . . . 

[July'} on the 19 day 2 women weer killed at Cape anne By 
Lightning : . . . 

[October} on satarday the 12 day of the month 6 men weer 
drowned : by the oversetting of a Boat they weer going in, up to 
boston. 

Sometime in this month dyed the Honorable Willyam .Jones esq'' 
deputy Governour of the Collony of Conecticutt in the 82*^ year of his 
age: . . . 

1707. 

[Jiay] the 22 of the month a young man named Parker, helping 
set a mast in a new ship was killed in an awfull maner. 

One Symon Gross of hingham was drowned about the same 
time : . . . 

[^Septembe)'} . . . the Rev'^ m'' Willard dyed the 12 day of the 
month : . . . [^words gone] in which office he continued to his dying 
day. being allso for sevrall years last past Vice Presedent of har- 
vard Colledge : a person of excelent accomjjlishm'^ natural and ac- 
quired : an hard student, a powerful preacher of the word of God. an 
exemplary christian : a mirror of all that is good : he dyed I suppose 
in the GS'"" year of age : intered at boston with great solemnity and 
Lamentation on munday Sept 15 : in the tomb of the worshipfull John 
Hull : esq"' 

Joanna wales Dyed Sept 27 in the evening : 1707 : 

\_November] The wife of Joseph Bass dyed on the sab day novem"" 
2'? 1707: aged, about 40 years: . . . 

The honorable Fitz John Winthrop esq""- Governour of her majesties 
Collony of Conecticutt dyed at boston the 27 of this month past, he 
dyed of the stone, in the 69"' year of his age : being born at Ipswich 
March 14. 1638. he was the son of the honorable John winthrop esq"', 
who was a member of the Royal Society : and an eminently acomplished 
Gentleman. Governor of his majesties Collony of Connecticutt who dyed 
at boston april. 5"*: 1676. in the 73*^ year of his age: this his son suc- 
ceded him in the Government of that Collony. being endowed with 
many excelent accom[)lishm's both moral political and phylosophical. 
whereby he was abundantly capable to serve god and the queen, and 
the collony in which he Lived. . . . 

[December} Brother Samvell Nucum dyed decem"^ 1 1. aged 47 years. 
1707: 



16 



1708. 

\_January'\ Thomas the son of John and hannah Cleverly dyed 
January the 1^^ 1707/8 : aged 15 months 

the child of Sam" and Bethiah Bass dyed January 11".' 1707/8 : 

Capt mils'' Indian girl dyed January 16 : 

Sam" SaviP infant buryed Jan. 18 

Willyam Savil- infant aged 14 days dyed January 18 1707-8 

edmund Litelfeilds child 5 weeks old dyed January 20 : 

\_March'] m"" Rawsons Little daughter anne, dyed march 20"' 1707/8 
aged 6 months . . . 

at boston, several persons dyed very suddenly as mr boiles mrs noyce. 
Regnal odal : and others, the voice of God therein ought to be heard, 
and duely Laid to heart . . . 

on the 22"^ day dyed the Reverend m'^ Zachariah Symmes. Pastor of 
the Church of Christ in Bradford, about 70 years old. . . . 

\_April'\ 26 went over to milton Cap* Vose Buried : . . . 

[jTune] Jonathan Marsh dyed at Cambridge June 10: 1708 : , . . 

on the 3*^ day was much thunder Lightening and Rain one man was 
killed by Lightening, whose name was Pratt, he Lived at maldou. 
the very next day seven persons went out in a boat from boston. 
a Gust of wind accompanyed with thunder Lightening and Rain 
hapened. in the afternoon, in which the boat was oversett and five 
persons drowned. ... 

\_July'] Nathan Bracketts child dyed July 10*^ aged 20 days. 1708 . . . 

[^August] Daniel Willard dyed sudenly 23 augt . . . 

\_December'] Joseph Clark dyed decern"" 8"' 

vncle nathaneel. Beals of hingham dyed. Decem"" 20 : 1708 aged 
upwards of 85 years : 85. . . . 

about the middle of the month one henry neal going upon ice between 
Boston and dorchester. the ice broke under him and he was drowned. 
Deacon William Avery of dedham dyed suddenly, about the middle of 
this month, a great Loss to the church theer In Dorchester m'' Samll 
Clap one of the ruleing elders of the church of christ theer Dyed in 
October Last about the 17 day of the month, his precious wife dyed a 
week before, him : . . . 

at Salem dyed Decem'' 9 the Reverend and aged mr John higginson : 
in the 93'' year of his age : who had been a minister of the gospell 
72 years : near fifty wherof he spent at Salem : a man of God, and a 
Good man and Just full of faith and of the holy Ghost : . . . 

1709. 
[January] as to this January it was a time of General health in most 
of our towns, only in Boston our cheif town many weer sick of a feaver 
attended with a sore mortality, the cheif of those that dyed was mr 



17 

Joseph Bridgliara. one of the ruleing ellders in the old church in boston, 
a pious and very useful! publick sperited person : he dyed January 5^''. 
1708'-^. Aged 57 years : . . . 

Natlianeel Blanchers infant buryed January 18 : 2 days old. . . . 

[^February] on the 24 day hapened a sad providence at millton a 
young maid daughter to samll trescott haveing been at boston that day 
going homeward in the evening adventureing. to go over the Ice at 
Naponriett River, the ice broke under her and she was drowned. . . . 

[J/circA] Mr Benj pern ber ton of boston my peculiar frind dyed 
march the 9'!' aged 43. 1708-9. 

Joseph simpson dyed March 12 . . . 

about the 18 of the month one mr Thomas downe of boston, a man 
of a good report aged i suppose 70 years, fell into the fire and was burnt 
to death in a very sad and awf'ull manner. . . . 

Benj Whites infant dyed march 25: 1709: aged 7 days: . . . 

\^Aprir\ on the 21 of this month dyed at hingham major Samuell 
Eeles. esqr: . . . 

Richard Thayer child dyed April : 27 : 1709 : . . . 

[e/««e] Sarah Twels dyed June 12 : . . . 

[^August] 6 : went to mr^ Sheperds funerall . . . 

\^N()vember'\ on[e] Shubael Lewis Lost at killing a whale: being 
pulled over board was drowned. . . . 

\^December'\ my father in Law m"" daniell fairfeild dyed in Boston. 
Decern'' 22'', aged about 77 years : 1709 : 

1710. 

[^January'\ my uncle James hawkins dyed suddenly of a chill marrow 
January 6 : aged allmost 5G years 1709.10 : 

mr John Hubbard dyed in Boston January 8: about 60 years old 
formerly an inhabitant of Braintree: . . . 

rar woodbridge Late of medford. dyed about the middle of this month 
a holy minister of the Gospell : . . . 

\_Mnrch'\ 23 . . . went to old m"" Cranes funeral : . . . 

\^Aprir\ about the 20 of the mouth a young man was killed at Boston 
by a fall off A new ship . . . 

our hagar dyed april 23 : aged about 20 weeks. . . . 

yAugiist] Thomas Basley dyed August 5"^ aged upwards of 80 years 

\^September'\ Samuel Baxters wife dyed September 15 : 1710: 

the Reverend m' James Allen dyed September 22 : 1710. in the 80 
year of age : 

\^November'\ Mr'' Cotton dyed at mr Hubbards of a Broken Legg 
November 1. 1710 . . . 



18 



1711. 

\^February'\ Peter webbs son Jonathan aged 4 months dyed Febru- 
ary 12 1710.11 

\_March'\ Ashly Curtiss dyed march 10. 1710/11 aged near 7 years: 

Samuel Vineing Buried a child about the same time. 

Mrs niary Baxter wife of the Rev*^ M' Joseph Baxter dyed after a 
Long and sore sickness march 29. 1711 She was the eldest daughter 
of the Reverend M' Moses fiske : dyed in the 38 year of her age 

\_April'\ mr"' helen french. the mother of willyam veasie : and daugh- 
ter of the Rev*^ mr William Thompson, deceased dyed april 23 : aged 
85 years 1711 : an aged saint. . . . 

\_October\ Samuel heydens child Born October 1. dyed October. 6. 
1711 . . . 

[^December] Samuel pains infant [Rachel] was Buried decern! 25. 
1711. 1 hour old. 

Indians, 

1697. 

\_February'] on sabbath day feb Last some of our shallops being 
gone out from home on a fishing voyage. Lying at anchor on sabbath 
day night and being too careles. not keeping a Watch : the Indians 
and french came on them at unawares, killed one man and took the 
Rest prisoners, and all the shallops being 6 in number : of which 
some of the men (as was said) come home a while after : . . . 

[^Marclf^ on the 14 day the Indians did much damage at haverill. 
burnt 9 houses killed and took Captive near 40 persons young and 
old: . . . 

\_Ap7-ir\ at the Latter end of this month 2 women and a young Lad 
that had Been taken captiue from Hauerill in march before : watching 
their opertunity when the Indians weer asleep killed ten of them, 
scalped them all and come home to boston, brought a gun with them 
and some otlier things: the cheif of thees indians took one of the women 
captiue when she had Layen in childbed but a few days : and knocked 
her child in head before her eyes : which women killed and scalped 
that very Indian : : this was done Just about the time the councell of 
this province had concluded on a day of fasting and pray'' through the 
prouince. 

\_Jultf\ the enemy indians to the eastward did much hurt in this 
month : euery week brought us the sad notices of it : . . . 

ther was allso about this time great expectation of the french to come 
By Sea upon us, But through the diuine goodnes none come : . . . 

\^August] The same week [about the 11th] the indians come u[)on a 



19 

party of tlie english at work on an iland known By the name of wood 
island killed 2 and took 3 captiues But the english meeting them 
again on their Return slew seuerall of them and Rescued one of the 
captiues : at this fight one George Witty who Belonged to Braintree 
was killed. . . . 

[September^ on the Saturday following [11th] the Indians did a 
great deall of mischeif at Lancaster. They beset the towne about 
noon. Burned 10 houses. Killed and captiuated about 20 persons of 
which the Cheif was the Reuerend m'' John whiteiug. pastor of the 
church of christ there : on the day following being sabbath September 
12"": our army abroad under the command of major John March: 
going ashoar at a place called damaris Coue : which is a small island 
in the eastward parts the Indians being there, they way laid them : and 
makeing a shot at them killed seurall of them of w** cap' demmick was 
one : and cap' Phillips of charlstowne was wounded in the thighe : and 
cap' whiteing of Connecticott was wounded in the head : but afterward 
Recovred: our englisli fought manfully and killed diners of the Indians 
and finally drove them of the island, after this our army come home 
and there was no harm done . . . 

1 699. 

\_Januari/^ The Eastern Indians who made peace with His majesties 
subjects of this province in anno 1693. at Pemaquid : But brake the 
same the next year, did this month of January condescend to come 
again to Articles of peace with Collonell John Phillips es<[^. of Charls- 
towne. who was sent to Casco on that errand By the Generall Asembly 
w!' sat in boston, in november Last : . • . 

[^February] I did not Hear of any great mattr of publick note w'' 
Happened this past moneth offebrnary : only wheras Collonell Phillips 
Coni'luded peace with the Indians to the eastward of this Province in 
January Last, in this moneth Come in divers Captives. And the soul- 
diers and oficers at the eastward, were generally drawn off. and come 
home. . . . 

1703. 

[./«??,e] his excellency went to the eastward to confirm and renew 
peace with the Indians and did so accordingly : . . . 

August . . . As to what befell in this month the most considerable 
thing was the perfidy of the penicooke and eastern Indians, for not- 
withstanding the articles of peace concluded with them at casco fort in 
the month of July Last when at the same time they intended to haue 
mui-dered the gouernour and thos with him. the Indians on the 9 of 
august seized the english at wells, at casco : at spurwink : at papuduck. 
at Black point and diners other places when — wheri; they conunitted 



20 

diuers murders : plundered and burnt many houses. Killed about 60 
persons captiued aboue 100 : : and all without the Least prouocation : 
on our parts, on account of which the Gouernour-Councell emitted a 
declaration against them : proclaiming them rebells and traytors. and 
from under her majesties protection : and imediately an army was sent 
out against them : . . . 

1704. 

[Februari/] As to this february past on the 29 day a great number 
of Indians and french that came from mount Royall beset poor deer- 
feild : and depopulated allmost the whole town: they slew 57 persons 
carryed 90 captiue among whom was m"" Willyams the pastor of the 
church of christ there : his wife was slain who was daughter to the 
Rev*^ m'' eleazar mather. formerly pastor of the church of christ in 
north hampton. thus we se all things come alike to all : and if these 
things be done to the green tree what shall be done to the dry : 

[^August^ The begining of this month of august the Indians did 
mischeif at Lancaster killed 3 or 4 persons burnt their meeting house : 
and did some harm allso at Groton. the same week killed one or more : 
about 200 men went out after them who weer gone 20 days- under 
major [William] Taylor, but Returned without doing any spoill on 
them : about the middle of the month 3 or four Indians come unawares 
on a Company of chilldren at a farm hous in marleborrough. Caryed 
away 4 of them alive the rest escaped. . . . 

\_Octobei- 26] the next day a man was killed and scalped by the 
Indians he belonged to the town of Groton his name was [John] davis ; 
a very usefull man and much lamented : . . . 

1705. 

[iVbuemfter] about the 22*^ day some of our deertield captives come 
in to Boston. . . . 

1706. 

[J/a?/] The Indians killed and took captive divers persons from 
Oyster River [Durham, N. H.] sometime this month: . . . 

[Jime^ toward the end of the month 45 captives come in from 
Canada: . . . 

[/m/?/] But on the 3'^ day some Indians beset dunstable wher they 
killed 7 or 8 persons : on the 21 they killed 2 and took one captive at 
groton at Sudbury an english had killed one of them. . . . 

\^August'] This month on the 29 day went away from boston, 
divers French captives and a Commissioner went away to Canada to 
negotiate about the redemption of captives : . . . 



21 



1707. 

[,/«we] the enimy indians did some damage in sundry places, killed 
some, and captivated others: among whom was one digory sergeant of 
Worcester and his family : . . . 

1708. 

[.//aie] the indians did some harm in this month by killing 2 persons 
at saco. ... 

l^Decembef'] some small disturbances are had in some places and 
now and then one killed, at haverhil about 50 men made an onset on 
the Lords day sometim in august killed 19 persons: of whorae the 
Cheif was m' Benjamin Rolfe the pastor of the church their, But the 
indians weer bravely repulsed by the inhabitants and souldiers. so y' in 
Conclusion they had nothing to boast of : . . • 



Miscellaneous. 

1689. 

[January'] Cap' Sauages watch beg [torn~\ January 24*'' 168f, : . . . 

18 April hapned the Reuolution which put an end to this kind of 
watch untill : the Last week in October and Then the comitee of malitia 
ordered the 4 center companys in the towne to keep their corps of 
guard at the towne house By the number of twelue men A night and 
a corporall and 12'' for the watch to drink . . . 

May 1 2 our company warded at the fort and then mony taken of 
Joseph Bruning and giuen to the drumer by order . . . 

[ October] We then took the watch October 29 . . . 

Nouember 17"' By mony paid for coale for the watch 12 shill : . . . 

in the Begining of december the malitia alltered the watch to 7 men 
A night and 6'' to Driuke . . . 

1690. 

January P' ordered that 13 men watch a night . . . 

At A meeting of cap' Savage and His oficers feb 1 1 68T/\y ordered 
for the grand Rounds these following \^names of tioelce men] . . . 
Thees only to walk on the grand Rounds till it is ordered otlier- 
ways : . . . 

MarcJi 30 1 690 : it was then ordered by the malitia that A military 
watch be kept in this towne. of half a company a night . . . 

I was chosen clerk of cap' Savag [<o/v/] company at the head of the 
company march 24 1 690 and sworn By Isack Addington : esq . . . 



22 

Au account of mony paid by me to nath Reynolds drum beater [here 
follows his receipt ending^ : as witnes my baud tbe said mony being 
part of pay for my beating tbe drum this year in cap* savages company. 
Nath : Raynolls . . . 

The next watch was on tbe 22*^-23'^ of September my self was then 
out of towne : . . . 

October 7"' I was by the aduice of Serjeant hawkins Serjeant hunt 
and the former Clerk : daniell fairfeild Suspended by the Leif tenant 
Willyam Gibson from any farther care of the watch till the cap' Savage 
came home and the trust of that afaire Reposed iu the former clerk 
according to his owne desire J"n Marshall : 



1691. 

June 10: 1691 then Receiued of Daniell f airfield and John Mar- 
shall CLerks of cap* Sauagees Company the sume of thirty shillings : 
ten in goods and the other twenty in mony on the account of my 
beating the drum in Capt Savages Company I say Receiued by me : 
for this year. Nath : Raynolls . . . 

I Liueing out of the towne deserted the companys seruice Sep* 14 
1691 being a day of training the cap' Released me from my charge as 
clerk nominated m'' fowle to serue the company acepted him for the 
place he allso acepted it glad was I as atests John Marshall . . . 



1697. 

[April^ 21 day m'' Joseph Baxter was ordained pastor of the church 
of christ in Medfeild : . . . 

[J/f/^] seuerall ships ariued from england brought news of a 
governor coming the price of english goods begins to fall : . . . 

[August 1] a very great mercy the sabbath before the first Clili 
in Boston agreed to keep thirsday following as a day of fasting and 
prayr to aske Rain, the mercy came before the day came : But it was 
kept acordingly : . . . 

on teusday august 24 allthough the weather was fair : yet a ship 
going to sea : m'' edward Lilly e master By Reason of a uiolent northerly 
wind the ship was driuen on shoar at Cape Cod and all Lost only the 
men got safe to the shoar: . . . 

[Decei/iber] about the same time a ship coming from england. Capt 
Sam" Turrell Comander, was cast away, near Cape Ann. the goods 
much damnified. But not wholly Lost : and no life Lost. 

The Bemnincr of this month I besfan to Read the bible ouer aofain. . . 



23 



1698. 
[^September'] 12 day I went again to Medfeild : my horse ran away 
and I went on foot: and wrought at medfield till munday the 26 day 
and then come home that night and found my family in good health : . . . 
\_Ociobei'l 17 a training — trooping i brautree . . . 
26 the Reuerend m"" Symon Bradstreet was ordeined at Charls- 
town. . . . 

169'J. 

l_3Iai/'] 31 : I wrought half the day at adamses : allthough it was the 
election day : . . . 

[,/<me] 25 the Sab : the Governors proclamation Read sab sancti- 
licution ... 

1701. 

[October'j a church was gathered at framingham and m' John Swift 
ordained the 8 day : . . . 

m''. Blowers ordained at beverly the 29 day of this month. . . . 

1702. 

[^March'] on the 10 of march about eleuen of the clock at night fire 
broke out among the warehouses in boston, diuers weer burnt and some 
blown up to save the rest in this fire a great deall of wealth was Lost 
some Judged one hundred thousand pound. . . . 

[Jane] I may heer note, allthough it be out of place : that we had 
war proclaimed in boston against france and spain sometime in the 
Latter end of June, allso his excellency Joseph dudley esq"" ariued as 
our Gouernour Commisioned by queen Anne: June 11 : 1702 allso 
Thomas povey esq"^ come our Leift Gouernour the same time . . . 

[November'] on the 18 day m' John Robinson was ordained pastor 
of the chh of Christ at Duxbury : . . . 

1703. 

\^Sepl.ember'\ I shall only remark of the aboue month, the storm of 
snow which was on the 28 day and the cold days that followed was such 
as I never knew the like for the time of the year. . . . 

[October 11] on the same day i\V Brewer of Roxbury had his 
lious burned at noon day and much Corn in it : and houshold stufi^ of 
great valine : about the same time seuen or eight ships arived from 
england who brought great store of english goods : 

our army abroad under the Conduct of Lt Coll John March haueing 
.spent much time in seekeing the enimys head (piartrs to Littell purpose. 
Returned the Latter end of this month. 

28 day m' fitch was ordained at ipswich : . . . 



24 

l^Novetnbei-^ 28 the sab. and a very sore storrD of snow and haill in 
this storm I beleiue the snow fell near 18 inches on a Lev^ll by reason 
of the storm we had but one exercise in publick this Lords day : . . . 

as to the november past, it was a Right winter month I never knew 
the like for frost-snow, the tedyous weather. I never did so Litell work 
in nouember. . . . 

on the 17 day m'' Fox was ordained at Wobourne : . . . 

1704. 

[Ji<He] on the 19 day m"" Eelles was ordained at Scituate. . • . 

\^December'\ allso in this month some french prisoners gat on board 
a sloop fitted for sea. and Ran away with her : Leaveing the english 
owners to Lament their Loss : . . . 

1705. 

June on the 16 day was an earthquake in many towns and places : 
. , . [fl/so at the end of the December entries] and on the 22"^ day 
through the CoUony of Connecticutt . . . 

In this month we had an ambassadour from the Governour of Canada 
to treat about Captives : the french haveing many english captives still 
in their hands . . . 

1706. 

[May] allso toward the end of this month a new meeting house was 
Raised at medfeild : . . . 

1707. 

[November] mr peter thacher was ordained at weymoth the 26 day 
of this month. . . . 

1708. 

[Januaiy] the most considerable thing this month was the installing 
m' John Leverett in to the office of President of Harvard Colledge at 
Cambridge he being the eighth president from the begining : this was 
performed January 14. with Solemnity and Rejoysing. . . . 

[Ma7-ch] on the 31 of march mr John Prentice was ordained at 
Lancaster. . . . 

[^May] only on the Sabbath day may 23. at middletown on Connec- 
ticut a thunder storm arose : and blew down part of an house which 
came against the meeting house, hurt the minster and divers of the 
assembly . . . 

1709. 

[May 18] allso on the same day mr david parsons was ordained 
pastor of the church of christ in maldon. . . . 

[J^ovember] on the 2'^ day their was two ordinations : m"^ thacher 
at middlebourough. and m' willyams at watertowne : 



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